City of Detroit Hires Christie’s to Appraise Detroit Institute of Arts Collection

In connection with the Detroit bankruptcy, auction house Christie’s announced on Monday that it has been hired to “assist and advise on how to realize value for the city while leaving the art in the city’s ownership.”  According to the Christie’s press release, the auction house was hired by the City of Detroit itself, which has floated the idea before (and which the museum itself has opposed publicly). 

This move lends credence to the theory that the city continues to see the sale of the art collection at DIA as a real option in the Detroit bankruptcy–although the statement is crafted carefully enough not to commit to that scenario.  It will be interesting to see if the museum itself responds. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/05/us-detroit-art-idUSL1N0G610W20130805